Amsterdam Ad Bloghttp://www.amsterdamadblog.com
The capital of advertisingTue, 03 Mar 2015 11:09:56 +0000en-UShourly1Simyo Freundehttp://www.amsterdamadblog.com/2015/03/02/simyo-freunde/
http://www.amsterdamadblog.com/2015/03/02/simyo-freunde/#commentsMon, 02 Mar 2015 10:01:27 +0000http://www.amsterdamadblog.com/?p=33144More.]]>Branded social media content is usually rubbish – a shitty image with a bad pun simply posted on the wall of the brand. Not this content for mobile provider Simyo. It’s relevant, targeted and even funny. The sympathetic message – conveyed by real Simyo employees – is meant for German and Spanish (“Simyo amigos“) consumers who accidentally post on Simyo’s Dutch (instead of German or Spanish) Facebook or Twitter page.

]]>http://www.amsterdamadblog.com/2015/03/02/simyo-freunde/feed/0Eau de Gelatohttp://www.amsterdamadblog.com/2015/02/26/eau-de-gelato/
http://www.amsterdamadblog.com/2015/02/26/eau-de-gelato/#commentsThu, 26 Feb 2015 08:23:14 +0000http://www.amsterdamadblog.com/?p=33141More.]]>We thought we were looking at an eau de toilette commercial when we first saw this. But it’s a commercial for Sammontana, the second largest ice cream brand in Italy.

Sammontana asked Amsterdam based director Billy Pols (who we featured under Talent for his documentary Zombie) to rejuvenate the brand, but keep its Italian soul. Pols had to start with an Italian voice-over and create the moving images on top of that. This sensual film is the result.

The responsible ad agency is Auge HQ Milano and production company Movie Magic. It was shot by Wouter Westendorp. The music was done by Erik Jan Grob and GoodSounds.

]]>http://www.amsterdamadblog.com/2015/02/26/eau-de-gelato/feed/1It’s a big world. Go run it!http://www.amsterdamadblog.com/2015/02/23/its-a-big-world-go-run-it/
http://www.amsterdamadblog.com/2015/02/23/its-a-big-world-go-run-it/#commentsMon, 23 Feb 2015 09:55:42 +0000http://www.amsterdamadblog.com/?p=33124More.]]>ASICS asked 180 to inspire all sportspeople to challenge their boundaries and discover the huge variety of ways to run. Together with some real running enthusiasts, cast from running groups around the world, this TVC features six ASICS-sponsored professional athletes such as Gwen Jorgensen, Queen Harrison, Ryan Martin and Rosario Rios-Aguilar.

With the message “It’s a big world. Go run it” ASICS wants to appeal to all types of runners, whilst also keeping the sport fun and accessible. We would call this not daring to choose. But if you make a film with such stunning cinematography and production value – including a touch of Lord of the Rings and Forrest Gump – you will at least come across as a brand for winners.

The commercial was shot in New Zealand and the VFX were done by MPC, utilising cutting-edge CGI crowd replication technology Miarmy to create the dynamic crowd scenes.

The director is Chris Sargent, the DOP Jody Lee Lipes and the production company Somesuch.

]]>http://www.amsterdamadblog.com/2015/02/23/its-a-big-world-go-run-it/feed/0Today’s look is for the dogwalkhttp://www.amsterdamadblog.com/2015/02/20/todays-look-is-for-the-dogwalk/
http://www.amsterdamadblog.com/2015/02/20/todays-look-is-for-the-dogwalk/#commentsFri, 20 Feb 2015 09:51:52 +0000http://www.amsterdamadblog.com/?p=33118More.]]>Retail is getting punched around at the moment. In fact, an almost unprecedented amount of retail chains are going bankrupt at the moment. Thanks to a faltering economy and internet shopping becoming the norm – especially in fashion.

So when you get a brief from value fashion chain C&A, you really need to think twice before you come up with an idea. It can’t be too fashionable – cause C&A isn’t – and it can’t be too cheap – cause there’s way too much competition at the bottom. That’s why we believe KesselsKramer did quite a decent job with this online (mood) film for the European market.

Though it’s a typcial fashion film, “Today’s look is for the dogwalk, not the catwalk” does give it a distinct tone of voice and look and feel. It is derived from C&A’s heritage; it was one of the first fashion brands (founded in 1841) to democratize fashion, allowing anyone to look good – an H&M avant la lettre, as it were.

Directed by Charlie Crane and produced by Knucklehead.

]]>http://www.amsterdamadblog.com/2015/02/20/todays-look-is-for-the-dogwalk/feed/2The Matchhttp://www.amsterdamadblog.com/2015/02/18/the-match/
http://www.amsterdamadblog.com/2015/02/18/the-match/#commentsWed, 18 Feb 2015 09:56:17 +0000http://www.amsterdamadblog.com/?p=33063More.]]>A ship works well, Heineken and Wieden+Kennedy probably thought after last year’s commercial The Odyssey – in which the main character constantly changes into someone else. Different ship this time. Clearly a bit shabbier. But with some inventiveness the entire crew wears a suit at the end and is able to watch the Champion’s League in style. Heineken, after all, is a premium pilsener.

With the same inventiveness the crew turns the propeller into a TV dish and makes a bottle magically refill itself so that there’s beer for the entire ship. Just to tell us: in the world of Heineken everything is possible. Spectacular. As always.

Directed by Frederic Bond, shot by Roman Vasyanov, production by Sonny and post production by The Mill. The song is “Viva la Pappa col Pomodoro” by Rita Pavone, and the post audio was done by Grand Central.

]]>http://www.amsterdamadblog.com/2015/02/18/the-match/feed/0Storytelling Dot Yeah!http://www.amsterdamadblog.com/2015/02/17/storytelling-dot-yeah/
http://www.amsterdamadblog.com/2015/02/17/storytelling-dot-yeah/#commentsTue, 17 Feb 2015 10:32:10 +0000http://www.amsterdamadblog.com/?p=33056More.]]>Storytelling, supposedly that’s what advertising is all about today. There’s one agency in town, Wieden+Kennedy, that has not just picked up this trend and made it its true skill. It has even turned it into a sophisticated caricature – if that’s not a contradiction in terms.

Thanks to clients such as Booking.com (Booking.yeah!) who have the budget to overdo things. Netflix is another one. The ingredients seem to be: a quirky storyline, some socially awkward settings, at least one turquoise sea, and a full American voice-over. It makes the quintessential Wieden+Kennedy commercial. And we suspect it works like a charm.

Nice to know; the anecdotes from this “Booking hero” have been sourced from real customer reviews – which probably makes the caricature a little more credible.

Directed by Dante Ariola, shot by Benoît Delhomme, produced by MJZ, post produced by Glassworks Amsterdam and sound design by Wave Studios.

]]>http://www.amsterdamadblog.com/2015/02/17/storytelling-dot-yeah/feed/0Valentine’s Stamphttp://www.amsterdamadblog.com/2015/02/16/valentines-stamp/
http://www.amsterdamadblog.com/2015/02/16/valentines-stamp/#commentsMon, 16 Feb 2015 08:27:04 +0000http://www.amsterdamadblog.com/?p=33048The best Valentine’s activation we came across this weekend came from PostNL. The Dutch Post for one day (mind you, on the 13th) allowed lipstick instead of stamps on postcards.

The agency created a website with ‘Fuck Valentine’s Day’ tweets. With an arrow you can click on the falling hearts and reveal the misery around Valentine’s Day. And then you can answer these tweets by clicking on “Aww come here” and give a cyber-hug.

]]>http://www.amsterdamadblog.com/2015/02/13/fuck-valentines-day/feed/0Mike Harris joins 180 as global head of strategyhttp://www.amsterdamadblog.com/2015/02/11/mike-harris-joins-180-as-global-head-of-strategy/
http://www.amsterdamadblog.com/2015/02/11/mike-harris-joins-180-as-global-head-of-strategy/#commentsWed, 11 Feb 2015 07:44:23 +0000http://www.amsterdamadblog.com/?p=33008More.]]>180 has appointed Mike Harris as its new global chief strategy officer, overlooking its Amsterdam and LA offices. He will drive new business growth and tackle high-level strategic opportunities for 180’s clients.

Before 180 Harris worked at Deluxe Entertainment, DDB California (where he was president and CEO), twofiteenmccann, TBWA/Chiat/Day, among other agencies. He has won global Effies and Cannes Grand Prix and has a campaign in the Clio Hall of Fame.

Harris about 180: “They know who they are and what they stand for, and I have always admired the work that 180 does and the agency’s people and culture.I’ve wanted to be part of that for a long time. I’m beyond excited to help Mike (Allen, CEO), Chris (Mendola, Founder/Chairman), William (Gelner, CEO LA) and Al (Moseley, President and CCO) take 180 to the next level.”

Recently the agency also hired the high-profile team Dave Canning and Dan Treicel from the US, so it looks like the agency is back on track.

]]>http://www.amsterdamadblog.com/2015/02/11/mike-harris-joins-180-as-global-head-of-strategy/feed/0Warsteiner creates mini docs around rap band ‘De Jeugd’http://www.amsterdamadblog.com/2015/02/10/warsteiner-creates-mini-docs-around-rap-band-de-jeugd/
http://www.amsterdamadblog.com/2015/02/10/warsteiner-creates-mini-docs-around-rap-band-de-jeugd/#commentsTue, 10 Feb 2015 12:38:38 +0000http://www.amsterdamadblog.com/?p=33005More.]]>This year De Jeugd van Tegenwoordig, one of Holland’s most popular rap bands, celebrates its 10th anniversary. This is the reason why Warsteiner – a brand that sponsors the most creative events in Amsterdam – and its agency Blend\Bureaux decided to create a series of mini-docs (in Dutch) – here’s part 1 – around the recording of the brand’s new album in Brussels this summer.

The docs seem to be shot by the band (often with mobile phone quality), which makes them a little amateur. However, the upside of this recording style is that you enter the world of De Jeugd as much as possible. In other words, compared to the budget the docs are easily interesting enough – especially for the real fans.